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Their view: Times have changed, for politicians and press

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Penn State’s defense will be shorthanded Saturday at Maryland

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; AAA Mid-Atlantic calls it &#8220;Blackout Wednesday.&#8221;</p><p>As everyone knows, the day after Thanksgiving Day is called &#8220;Black Friday&#8221; &#8212; the busiest retail shopping day of the year.</p><p>Few people realize, however, the day before Thanksgiving Day is dubbed &#8220;Blackout Wednesday&#8221; or &#8220;Drinksgiving&#8221; in some circles.</p><p>AAA Mid-Atlantic says Thanksgiving Eve is unofficially one of the most notorious days of the year for high alcohol consumption or binge drinking by college students or other young people who are home for the holiday.</p><p>&#8220;While Thanksgiving Day is a time to share meals with our loved ones, the eve of Thanksgiving is one of the most dangerous times for overindulgence in alcohol &#8212; not food,&#8221; says Jana Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. &#8220;While we disapprove of and fear drunk drivers on the road, a survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that far too many drivers aren&#8217;t practicing what they preach. There is a big disconnect in our actions and words.&#8221;</p><p>The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety&#8217;s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index (2016) reports nearly all drivers (97 percent) disapprove of drinking and driving. However, more than one-in-eight drivers admit to driving at least once in the past year when they thought their alcohol level might be close to or possibly over the legal limit.</p><p>Here are some other related facts:</p><p>&#8226; AAA reports the Thanksgiving weekend accounts for more than 400 traffic deaths each year.</p><p>&#8226; According to the state Department of Transportation, there were 4,531 crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period in Pennsylvania and 54 fatalities in 2016.</p><p>&#8226; This year, AAA projects 45.5 million people are traveling by car to celebrate Thanksgiving with family or friends, including 49,000 Wilkes-Barre area residents.</p><p><strong>More stats; tips</strong></p><p>Law enforcement officials and traffic safety advocates cite three overarching factors in the spike in DUI-related traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend:</p><p>&#8226; Heavy traffic &#8212; Thanksgiving Day is actually a heavier long-distance travel day than Wednesday.</p><p>&#8226; The domino effect of holiday revelry and bar crawls when college students are home for the holiday.</p><p>&#8226; During the holidays, 45 people are killed by intoxicated motorists per day, compared to 28 each day during the year.</p><p>AAA recommends the following to help keep you safe this Thanksgiving holiday:</p><p>&#8226; Consider leaving earlier or later to avoid heavy traffic.</p><p>&#8226; Map your route in advance and be prepared for busy roads.</p><p>&#8226; Designate a safe and sober driver before the party begins. If you don&#8217;t have a designated driver, plan to call a cab or a ride share, or use public transportation. </p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

AAA: On Thanksgiving Eve it’s not the food, it’s the booze